Bangkok at odds over F1 race (video)
Residents of Thailand’s capital Bangkok are split over their municipality’s efforts to apply for a Formula 1 race to be held during the 2015 race season whose track would lead through the historical heart of the city with a population of 8.3-million.
A Grand Prix of Bangkok would see high-powered F1 cars thundering alongside historical sites such as the Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s tourist hotspots, past the Democracy Monument and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the religio-political symbol of Thai society. The power of the cars would also most likely make beer bottles at restaurant tables in the nearby backpacker destination Khao San Road trembling.
While the 6-kilometer track has been approved by the Sports Authority of Thailand in April 2013, which said that “only a small group of residents would be affected by the proposed route,” many in Bangkok fear severe traffic disruptions as the race will block one of the central arteries of the city, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, and also the important river crossing of Rama VIII Bridge for several days.
Residents of 20 about communities along the track are angered about the routing and said that the race should be held on an existing racetrack outside the city, for example at the Bira Circuit, located a short distance from Pattaya, which is the only internationally certified racetrack in Thailand.
Other groups said that the race would cause environmental damage, in addition to loud noise, and vibrations could damage historical structures along the route.
The layout and the final plans for the race are still subject to a final sign-off by the government next month.
The Sports Authority of Thailand argued that a Formula 1 race in Bangkok would place the city and the whole country on the map of high-caliber international sports events and would benefit tourism and the economy, with millions of people worldwide watching the race on television. Main sponsors for the race would be Red Bull and Singha Beer.
If Thailand gets approval from Formula 1 authorities, it would become the third country in Southeast Asia to host an F1 event after Singapore and Malaysia.
Below driver Mark Webber’s Red Bull F1 showcar run on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in October 2010, the first such stunt in the country.
[caption id="attachment_9796" align="alignleft" width="300"] Approved Formula 1 race track in Bangkok. (Click to enlarge)[/caption] Residents of Thailand's capital Bangkok are split over their municipality's efforts to apply for a Formula 1 race to be held during the 2015 race season whose track would lead through the historical heart of the city with a population of 8.3-million. A Grand Prix of Bangkok would see high-powered F1 cars thundering alongside historical sites such as the Grand Palace, one of Bangkok's tourist hotspots, past the Democracy Monument and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the religio-political symbol of Thai society. The power of...
Residents of Thailand’s capital Bangkok are split over their municipality’s efforts to apply for a Formula 1 race to be held during the 2015 race season whose track would lead through the historical heart of the city with a population of 8.3-million.
A Grand Prix of Bangkok would see high-powered F1 cars thundering alongside historical sites such as the Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s tourist hotspots, past the Democracy Monument and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the religio-political symbol of Thai society. The power of the cars would also most likely make beer bottles at restaurant tables in the nearby backpacker destination Khao San Road trembling.
While the 6-kilometer track has been approved by the Sports Authority of Thailand in April 2013, which said that “only a small group of residents would be affected by the proposed route,” many in Bangkok fear severe traffic disruptions as the race will block one of the central arteries of the city, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, and also the important river crossing of Rama VIII Bridge for several days.
Residents of 20 about communities along the track are angered about the routing and said that the race should be held on an existing racetrack outside the city, for example at the Bira Circuit, located a short distance from Pattaya, which is the only internationally certified racetrack in Thailand.
Other groups said that the race would cause environmental damage, in addition to loud noise, and vibrations could damage historical structures along the route.
The layout and the final plans for the race are still subject to a final sign-off by the government next month.
The Sports Authority of Thailand argued that a Formula 1 race in Bangkok would place the city and the whole country on the map of high-caliber international sports events and would benefit tourism and the economy, with millions of people worldwide watching the race on television. Main sponsors for the race would be Red Bull and Singha Beer.
If Thailand gets approval from Formula 1 authorities, it would become the third country in Southeast Asia to host an F1 event after Singapore and Malaysia.
Below driver Mark Webber’s Red Bull F1 showcar run on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in October 2010, the first such stunt in the country.
